Moore Kingston Smith expands legal services with Statham Gill Davies merger
Moore Kingston Smith LLP, a leading multi-disciplinary advisory, tax and audit firm, announces London-based law firm Statham Gill Davies (SGD), is joining its existing Legal Services team to form Moore SGD Law in 2025.
Moore Kingston Smith’s existing legal services for business and private individuals include a corporate team which supports clients with company law, group reorganisations, investment and shareholders’ agreements, share incentives, Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs), management buyouts (MBOs) and mergers and acquisitions. In addition, its private client team provides expertise in probate, estate administration, wills and inheritance tax planning, trusts and lasting powers of attorney. In September it launched immigration law services for businesses and high-net-worth individuals.
SGD has built a solid reputation as expert music lawyers, representing prominent artists from the Brit Pop era to today’s music scene. Their exceptional commitment and knowledge have garnered trust from a diverse range of clients within the industry, highlighted with a band two Chambers and Partners ranking in music. Beyond their roots, SGD has expanded its expertise to include a comprehensive range of legal services such as property, dispute resolution, family law, wills and probate, company and commercial law, employment, immigration and notarial services.
January 2025 will see Moore Kingston Smith’s 14-person, SRA-authorised legal team joined by SGD’s six partners and 24 people. In line with Moore Kingston Smith’s growth strategy to broaden its professional services, this merger will enable the firm to offer a full-service legal practice under the banner of Moore SGD Law. It will provide an extensive range of legal services, including property, dispute resolution, family law, company and commercial law, employment, private client services and immigration, while addressing the unique needs of the music, media and entertainment sectors.
This expansion will further enhance Moore Kingston Smith’s existing media offerings, complementing its dedicated team of over 100 experts, and adding specialist legal expertise to its capabilities which cover marketing services, TV and film, theatre, actors and entertainers and video gaming. Through the merger with SGD, Moore Kingston Smith reaffirms its commitment to the media and creative industries, following its recent merger with Shipleys, a leading adviser in film, TV, and animation production. This further positions Moore Kingston Smith as a leader in serving the needs of professionals and businesses in these sectors.
SGD’s clients will benefit from seamless access to the ability and services of a large, connected firm including Moore Kingston Smith’s tax, HR consultancy, insolvency and digital transformation offerings, as well as the national and international reach of leading accountancy network Moore Global. This move brings the strength of a growing business with well-honed operational teams, processes and systems that support both the delivery of high-quality client services, and the career growth of its people within a well-supported environment.
Matt Meadows, managing partner of Moore Kingston Smith comments: “SGD’s team of exceptional and seasoned lawyers are a very welcome addition to our Legal Services team. Significantly widening our legal offering, we’re delighted to combine our expertise, enabling us to mutually carry out much broader work for our clients, together as Moore SGD Law.”
John Statham, founding partner of Statham Gill Davies, said: “Over the years, SGD partners have collaborated with Moore Kingston Smith, and their appreciation for our services, along with our shared values, led them to approach us about joining forces. Both SGD and Moore Kingston Smith are renowned, successful brands, and this partnership represents a unique opportunity to combine our strengths.
“By leveraging Moore Kingston Smith’s robust market presence and extensive client base across diverse sectors, we’re poised to take our firm to the next level. This merger ensures we have the investment, structure, and resources to adapt to the changing legal landscape and seize exciting growth opportunities, all while delivering even greater value to our clients.
“Our clients will continue to receive the same dedicated service, commercial acumen and technical expertise from the lawyers they trust—now with the added advantage of access to Moore Kingston Smith’s wider range of professional services.
“SGD has a proud history of trailblazing in the legal field, and I’m thrilled to lead the firm into this transformative merger. As Moore SGD Law, we’re embarking on an exciting journey, unlocking new possibilities for our clients and our business alike.”
In 2015, Moore Kingston Smith became the first medium-sized accountancy firm to receive an ABS license from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), and has grown steadily since. This latest merger marks an exciting milestone in the team’s continued development.
